The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-09-30

..Why, that this Mr.. Forrest must
have seen the notice. and KEEP it to
himself, thinking that perhaps he could
wheedle you out of the bag for little or
nothing. and then get big reward for
returnin' it." replied Miss Smith, with
q triumphant snap of her gray eyes.
81 think there's more to it than that.
Miss Smith," said Tad. rising to his
feet. Il think he's the same fellow
who tried SO hard to get hold of it in
Boston. You see, ma am," continued
Tad, meekly. Il amt SO quick as some.
but I've studied it out kind of like this.
He somehow found out, in the first
place, that the tall gentleman who
owns it had jewelry, or whatever it is,
worth ever SO much money in his sach-
Ell, and Just followed on after him to
get chance to grab it. Then I got
hold of it, and ever since he's been
doggin' me. He's got a mustache.
and bran'-new teeth, and his voice is a
little different; but this afternoon 1
found out something that makes me
pretty sure I'm right" And then Tad
told Miss Smith about the little blue
scar. that he had so unexpectedly dis
covered.
"Well. Tad" observed Miss Smith.
after short astonished pause, '.you're
smarter boy than 1 ever thought you
was, I'm free to confess. The-the-
deceptive critter!" And, for moment
or two, it really seemed as though Miss
+, Smith was determined to sally forth,
and, single-handed, capture Mr.. For
rest. and drag him into the presence of
"Square'' Martin, the Bixport justice
! of the peace. there to denounce him as
fraud of the first water.
But. upon cooler reflection, che saw
that, in reality. there was no visible
proof of any such charge, further than
Tad's own word. Even Captain Flagg
or Polly would hardly have recognized,
in the elegantly-dressed gentleman
with a silky black mustache, the smooth
faced, shabby sharper who had tried
unsuccessfully to steal Captain Flagg
money and papers on Commercial
wharf.
"Give a rogue rope enough, and he's
sure to hang himself; SO l guess We
won't say any thing for spell
longer" finally said Miss Smith. te
Tad's great qualification.
But the good lady Immediately sa'
down and wrote letter to -. H. A
in relation to the sachel. and after
ward posted it with her own hands
Furthermore. she had a new lock pu
on each of the outer doors, ard ever
went so far as to have Tad clean ant
load an old flint-lock musket, that hat
done good service at Bunker Hill
which, to Samantha Nason's grea
horror. she kept standing at the hea.
of her bed.
Il feel it in my bones that the fel
low'll make one more trial for tina
sachel," she said. oracularly, 'for h
knows that what's in it is well WORT
runnin' a big risk for; but. if ne
aware when he's well off, he bette
keep away"
Three days passed, and then Mis-
Smith received an answer, to the etfec
that u. H. A." would be in Bixport Cl
the following day, and would do HIM
self the honor of calling upon Mis-
Smith, at her residence, in the even
ing.
"Things is coming to climax. Tad.
said Miss Smith. carefully tuc&ing tn
letter away in a pigeon-hole Of the old
fashioned secretary in the front sitting
room, land l guess you'll get your fiv
hundred dollars reward, after all, an
> Edwards, or whatever his name is. wi
have his trouble for his pains"
Five hundred dollars! Tad turne
:, from red to white. and white to re
again. He thought to himself tha
when he held the money in hi
1 hands he would believe it, but not ii
I then!
Il The sachel had been placed in a sec
, rotary drawer for safe keeping. Mis-
: Smith unlocked the drawer, to max
. sure that it was safe. Then she held
thoughtfully up by the handle.
; I'm free to confess I'm drctful cur
. Gus to know what's inside" she II
r marked. as she held it at her ear, an
t shook it vigorously. There's paper
for ono thing--I hear 'em rustle-an
J something like box" she continued
"but never mind, Tad-we'u know a
about it tomorrow night" Thus sa.
. ing. she replaced the sachel. locked I'll
d drawer and dropped the key into h
Il pocket, happily unconscious that
y sharp pair of eyes-whose owner W;
: hidden from the view of any chant
e passer-by by thick clump of lilacs b
|. fore the house-had been watching h
IS every movement from without, thrOus
the half-closed blinds.
r CHAPTER Kill
d The curtains were pulled down. Il
- big kerosene-lamp lighted. and Mi
le Smith, at the head of the dining-roO
e table, was pouring out the tea, on Il
y evening when the arrival of j. II. !
n was expected.
II s'pose the stage'n be late;
" always is when there's any thing Of il
], portance on hand" observed Mi
1, Smith. glancing disconsolately at Il
l. pale-faced clock, whose hands point'
to the hour of seven.
Dear me. 1 hope notw said MI
Mason; '.for, to tell the truth, ev
since I heard about Tad and the my
terious sachel. 1 have been fairly q
xoured with curiosity to know its co